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Undergraduates in Christian counseling generally learn psychology, ethics, theology, and social sciences from the perspective of a particular faith tradition. Faculty design bachelor's curricula to teach counseling practices that are informed by Christian values so graduates can help treat clients with behavioral, relationship, and substance-use challenges.

As a faith-based discipline, students can only find Christian counseling programs at private religious schools, which limits the number of available online degrees. Most of these online programs feature asynchronous courses, meaning that students log in at convenient times to complete coursework, watch recorded lectures, interact with classmates, and submit assignments.

To graduate, most Christian counseling students must complete 120-130 credit hours, which usually takes at least four years of full-time study. Additionally, most programs culminate in a capstone course requiring students to tie together what they've learned throughout their classes. Some degrees also feature an internship, allowing students to put their counseling skills to practical use.

Admission requirements for Christian counseling programs vary depending on the school or university. In most cases, online and in-person programs at the undergraduate level expect students to meet the following prerequisites:

• High school diploma or equivalent with a minimum 2.5 GPA
• SAT or ACT scores in the 50th percentile, although some schools are making this optional
• Letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors, and religious leaders describing the student's skills and abilities
• One or more personal essays that demonstrate the student's interest in a Christian counseling degree

Colleges design most bachelor's programs to last four years with full-time enrollment status. They may offer part-time options to online students, which may allow them to take fewer classes at a time, but it may take longer to complete. In practice, only of those who earned a bachelor’s degree take more than four years to finish their program. 

One of the most important things to look for when selecting any college program is accreditation, which means that an independent agency attests to the quality of the school's instruction, faculty, and services. Many Christian colleges opt for accreditation through the . Accreditation qualifies a college to accept federal financial aid. However, regionally accredited schools usually only accept transfer credits from colleges with the same type of accreditation. Students who plan to enroll in graduate studies should keep this in mind.

Individual degree programs in some disciplines can also earn accreditation. However, no agencies accredit bachelor's degrees in Christian counseling. The (CACREP) accredits graduate-level degrees in several types of counseling but not Christian counseling programs or bachelor's programs of any kind. Students who want to be licensed professional counselors must attend a CACREP-accredited graduate program. However, they should be aware that admissions officers at these schools may not recognize academic credits earned during an undergraduate degree in Christian counseling, even if they come from an accredited school.

For students considering distance education, it may be important to determine whether an online counseling program offers learners sufficient resources. This may include regular check-ins with faculty and advisors, tutoring and library services, and 24/7 support to resolve any technical issues. Given that counseling programs often involve an in-person internship or practicum experience, students may also want to check whether an online program helps them identify and apply for programs at healthcare facilities to gain the required hours of clinical experience.

A Christian counseling degree online fuses theology with psychology, so professors seek to increase students' proficiency with biblical principles, mental health diagnosis, empathy, and communication. Some Christian counseling online programs offer concentrations, such as marriage and family counseling or substance use counseling, which can also be pursued as bachelor's programs at some schools. Similar programs are also available in the form of psychology degrees, philosophy degrees, theology degrees, or religious studies studies. Alternatively, students could pair their Christian counseling degree with one of these specializations as minors.

Below, we've listed several common courses to give prospective students a taste of what they might encounter during their Christian counseling studies:

• Counseling with Christianity: This course often comes early in a degree sequence because it's intended to provide the rationale for Christian counseling. Students may learn how to interpret scripture for practical lessons, actively listen, and advise clients by exercising a Christian worldview.
• Abnormal Psychology: Students seek to understand the spectrum of human psychology in this course so they can recognize and treat a range of mental illnesses. Lessons generally cover common mental illnesses and associated behavior, crisis intervention, treatment options, and the Bible's perspective on abnormal psychology. 
• Addiction Counseling: This course generally covers the biochemical underpinnings of substance abuse and addiction. Professors may lecture on the neurophysiological effects of various substances, the etiology of addiction, and the function of compassion in treatment. (We also list the best online substance use counseling degrees you may want to check out.)
• Human Sexuality: Professors typically examine sexuality from biological, psychological, and biblical perspectives. Topics might include cultural and social norms, gender, sexual identity, and morality, all filtered through a religious lens.
• Marriage and Family Counseling: This course is designed to cover biblical perspectives on spiritual formation and relationship dynamics within families. Lessons often emphasize counseling techniques for conflict identification and resolution between spouses, parents, children, and siblings. (For those interested, there's also marriage and family counseling bachelor's degrees.)

Graduates with a bachelor's degree in Christian counseling often seek roles at faith-based organizations, including churches, non-profits, and private firms. But some employers might prefer to hire counseling applicants who are licensed by the (NACC), which requires a graduate degree in the subject. Bachelor's graduates may still be able to secure non-counseling roles for these same faith-based employers.

Below, we examine some of the career paths that alumni might take.

• Church counselors meet with individual parishioners or groups to hear their concerns about mental health, behavior, relationships, or substance use and help them make positive life changes. Employers expect counselors to offer solutions within the church's Christian moral framework.
• Life coaches develop behavior-modification plans for clients who want to change their habits. Most life coaches are self-employed and either develop a roster of clients or consult with one or more parochial rehabilitation or residential care organizations. The offers life coach certifications for professionals in this field.
• Non-profit organization counselors provide services for domestic or international charities with a Christian mission. They may specialize in treating different populations — for example, trauma counseling after disasters or addiction counseling for clients who can't afford for-profit services.

Reliable salary and job outlook information is scarce for these jobs because the only collects information on licensed professional counselors.

In general, there are no set requirements to become a Christian counselor. As a religious discipline, the field isn't regulated by any government bodies, so individual employers can decide which qualifications they prefer.

The NACC offers licenses for Christian counselors who hold at least a master's degree, and this credential may improve a professional's employment prospects. Other organizations that offer Christian counseling certifications don't require candidates to hold a college degree, so their quality control may be less stringent.

A Christian counseling degree is a good fit for individuals who are genuinely interested in using evidence-based strategies to help people improve their lives. Such individuals may have a for vulnerable persons and those facing difficult life circumstances or might find that they are able to support others by listening to their concerns and helping them find solutions. Additionally, a counseling degree may be a good option for students who possess talents in communication and collaboration, as well as those who are adept at building effective professional relationships.

Because Christian counseling is unregulated, you can potentially start this role with only a bachelor's degree. You can also pursue a master's or doctoral program in this discipline, which would allow you to gain NACC certification.